KELLEY, WILLIAM DAnnaar, b. Philadelphia, 1814; orphaned young, supported and educated by his own work and will; first a printer, afterwards learned the trade of jeweler, and while working at his trade studied law; was admitted to the bar in Phila delphia in 1841. From 1810 to 1856 was judge of the court of common pleas of Phila delphia. Iu 1856, on the repeal of the Missouri compromise, lie left the democratic party, became the republican candidate for congress, and was defeated. In 1860 he was delegate to the republican convention at Chicago which nominated Lincoln; and the same autumn was elected representative to the 37th congress from Philadelphia, and has been re-elected to the present time (1880). Now the oldest member in consecutive service, he is styled the father of the house. In the first terms of his congressional serv ice Mr. Kelley was recognized as an earnest and eloquent supporter of all measures to circumscribe slavery, to carry on the was for the union, and at its close to assert and defend the equal rights of all races in the privileges of citizenship. Later he became conspicuous for his energetic defense of a tariff for the protection of the iron interests of Pennsylvania, and of protection to all American manufactures. For the last three terms of his service lie has been conspicuous by his able championship of opinions on the subject of money, and financial legislation, differing from those usual in both politi cal parties. He has been erroneously classed with the advocates of unlimited issues of government notes for money. Nothing in his public life warrants this. But he is an opponent of the monopoly in the issue of.money granted to bank corporations, and favors the issue of government notes, payable in gold or silver on demand, in lieu of private corporation bank-notes. He was die great supporter of a bill known as the 3.65 inter convertible bond scheme, introduced in congress in Jan., 1874, which, though ridiculed
and violently opposed by both parties when presented, has since been reached in gradual approaches by the secretary of the treasury. Mr. Kelley's views have changed since he began to speak on financial questions. as the result of careful study, which has made him a disciple of Henry C. Carey of Philadelphia. He has been peculiarly comprehen sive in his observation of the practical effects of financial legislation on the active indus tries of the country. At first he saw no great evil lurking in the legislation demonetizing silver; but, when he had studied its effects, lie advocated remonetization in speeches so powerful in facts and reasonings, that, before the session closed, remonetization was car ried by a majority of five to one in the house of representatives. He was distinguished for the earnestness of his protests against the violent efforts to contract the national "geenback" circulation after all the business transactions of the country for ten years had become adjusted to its volume; and it is claimed that his pictures of the inevitable effect of such interference with business interests were verified by the misfortunes that came upon a large part of the people when their debts were increased and the value of their property diminished by the same act of legislation. The subject of a single or dual coin standard of value • having grown into a world-wide study, Mr. Kelley is now prominent in its discussion, and in the effort to conserve the joint use of silver and gold as heretofore. In the summer of 1879 he visited Europe and conferred with Bismarck and with great writers on this subject, in both Germany and. France, writing notes on his conferences in letters to the Philadelphia Times, since published in a pamphlet entitled Letters from Europe.